- “You keep using that word. I don’t think it means what you think it means.”
Yes, we know — nobody likes a Grammar Nazi. But we who write these stories and lists for you at Oddee work with words, and we often see words that people just use wrong.
We just can’t stay quiet about some of them any longer. Here are 10 words that people repeatedly misuse.
Just let us get this out of our system. We’ll be back to our regular weird news programming soon.
1) Disinterested
This is one of those staples that earns everyone a red mark on their paper in English class. Many a student has written down “disinterested” when they meant to say “uninterested.”
What “disinterested” actually means is “unbiased” or “neutral,” as in a “disinterested party in a court case.” You know, someone with no vested interest in whatever’s being talked about.
2) Historic
Despite what it sounds like, calling something “historic” doesn’t necessarily mean it has anything to do with history. If you want to talk about historical events or places you say… Well, “historical.”
Instead, “historic” refers to things that have or had a significant and lasting importance. Something can be historic, even if it happened just a couple hours ago.
Then again, many writers keep using the two words interchangeably. But now you at least know what the difference is supposed to be.
3) Dilemma
When you encounter a problem, you’ve run into a dilemma. Right? It could be so, under certain conditions.
Just any regular conundrum doesn’t count as a “dilemma.” The word refers specifically to a situation where you must make a choice between two alternatives. That’s where the “di-“ part comes from.
That also means that if you need to choose between three options, you’re facing a trilemma. Wonder how far we could stretch this linguistic concept? Have you ever had to deal with an octolemma?
4) Electrocute
If you walk around on carpet in your socks, you might get zapped by some static electricity. But that doesn’t mean you got electrocuted.
To be electrocuted, you have to receive injuries or straight-up die from an electric current. A little sting only means you got an electric shock.
If you don’t believe us, just look at where the word comes from. “Electrocute” is a portmanteau — or a word combination — of “electricity” and “execution.” Yeah, a static shock doesn’t quite cut it.
5) Grizzly
People often use the word “grizzly” — as in a grizzly bear — to describe something that is horrible, awful, or terrifying. A grizzly bear is definitely all of those things, but that’s not what “grizzly” means.
“Grizzly” actually means “gray-haired.” The word you’re looking for when talking about fearsome things is the similar-sounding “grisly.”
But wait — grizzly bears are brown. Why do we even call them grizzly bears? Did someone actually make this mistake when naming the beasts?
6) Plethora
I admit it, even this writer has gotten tripped up by “plethora” several times. We usually use it to indicate that there’s a lot of something, but that’s not quite right.
If there’s a “plethora” of something, there’s definitely a lot of it — in fact, there’s too much. The word comes from old medical terminology, where doctors used to describe a condition of there being an excess of certain fluids in the body.
In short, “plethora” doesn’t just mean that there’s plenty of something. It means there’s more of it than necessary.
7) Bemused
You see this mistake crop up surprisingly often in fiction. Well, aspiring novelists, take a note — “bemused” doesn’t mean “amused.”
Instead, a bemused person is confused, dazed, or bewildered. Of course, something strange happening could be both amusing and bemusing at the same time.
8) Peruse
How many times have you heard of someone perusing magazines while waiting at the doctor’s office? You’d usually read that as them skimming the magazines, but the word’s actual meaning is quite the opposite.
“Peruse” means that something is “thoroughly used or examined.” So, when you’re perusing a magazine, you’re really putting some thought and analysis into what you’re reading.
We’re not saying that you couldn’t peruse magazines while waiting for your appointment. Just make sure you actually mean it if you say so.
9) Decimate
Today, we often say something gets “decimated” when it gets completely and utterly destroyed. But that’s a long shot from the word’s actual meaning.
“Decimate” is based on the same root word as “decimal,” meaning “ten.” To decimate something, you would have to eradicate exactly one-tenth of it.
The term comes from an ancient Roman military practice where commanders would decimate their ranks, or execute every tenth legionnaire to keep the survivors in line through fear. But language is a living thing — do we have to use a word a certain way just because the Romans did so?
10) Inflammable
Do you watch the Simpsons? Then you might’ve seen Doctor Nick Riviera lament this linguistic oddity in front of his burning office: “Inflammable means flammable? What a country!”
Indeed, a lot of people think “inflammable” means “unable to catch fire.” But once again, the real meaning is the other way around — inflammable things burst in flame way, way too easily.
Seriously, why do we use this word? Just say “flammable” and nobody will get confused.